Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · 14h

Proud to see Voyager at the heart of NATO operations — fuelling RAF Typhoons over Eastern Europe and proving how partnership delivers reach, readiness & reassurance.
www.forcesnews.com/services/raf...

Fuelling up to face the threat: How Voyager keeps the RAF's Typhoons on station

BFBS Forces News reporter Simon Newton boards a Voyager refuelling aircraft on the operation that's Nato's answer to airborne threats

www.forcesnews.com

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Aug 16

The last of the brightest lights has gone.
Flt Lt John Cruickshank VC, 105, final surviving WWII VC recipient, has died. Wounded 72 times, he sank U-347 & brought his crew home. A life of courage & duty.

zurl.co/Ux9Hl

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zurl.co

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Aug 15

VJ Day 80. WW2’s end & a proving ground for expeditionary air power. From Hurricanes over Imphal to Dakota jungle drops, RAF crews helped end history’s bloodiest war. Let’s give this anniversary its due. #VJDay #VJDay80
🔗 www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...

VJ Day 80 Lives Remembered Part 1

While many in the Armed Forces in Europe saw victory in May 1945, there were thousands still engaged in fighting on the other side of the world in the Far East. For them, the war ended on 15 August 1945.

www.raf.mod.uk

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Aug 5

RN needs mass as well as capability. As Maritime Minister, I pushed early MASS regulation so the UK could lead in maritime autonomy. Now’s the time to buy & deploy at pace — not wait for perfect plans.
zurl.co/ZamLa

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Aug 5

China’s grip on 90% of rare earths is strangling US defence supply chains. Fighter jets to drones now face delays and costs up 60×. Pentagon scrambles with $400m mine boost but no quick fix. UK should take note. zurl.co/TEOzp

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zurl.co

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jul 12

South Korea just froze its $3.5bn Apache deal—slashing funding by 97%. Unmanned systems are now in the frame.

Another step toward the end of manned attack helicopters?

breakingdefense.com/2025/07/...

South Korea puts brakes on follow-on Apache acquisition: Reports

Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said that funding for the program to acquire of 36 Apaches has been cut from 10 billion won ($7.29 million) to just 300 million won, according to local media.

breakingdefense.com

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jul 11

Another graphic Houthi strike on a Greek bulker (Eternity C) in the Red Sea—this threat isn’t going away. No ship is truly safe. Still pretending this is temporary? shippingtelegraph.com/shippi...

U.S. Embassy Yemen says Houthis kidnapped many surviving Eternity C crew members | Shipping reports | Shipping Telegraph

Yemen’s Houthis took responsibility of the attack on the Greek-managed bulker Eternity C in the southern Red Sea, the second ship attacked

shippingtelegraph.com

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jul 11

🚨 Maritime piracy surged 50% in H1 2025. Armed attacks rising in West Africa, Singapore Strait & S. America. 100 seafarers held hostage/threatened. Trouble brewing at sea again: shippingtelegraph.com/piracy...

Piracy and armed robbery attacks up 50% in first half of 2025 | Piracy news | Shipping Telegraph

A total of 90 cases of piracy and armed robbery against ships were recorded in the first half of 2025, a 50% increase compared to

shippingtelegraph.com

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jul 10

Hermer’s new guidance turns legal advice into legal veto.
Ministers can be reported for pressing ahead without a “tenable” argument.
International law elevated over Parliament.
It’s not rule of law—it’s rule of lawyers.
🔗 www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

Lord Hermer gives himself ‘veto’ over government policy

Documents reveal extent of Attorney General’s ‘power grab’

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 26

Banks are “de-banking” UK defence firms: 73 % can’t even open an account, says ADS.

How do we fund rearmament if finance shuts the door? 👀

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06...

‘Banks would rather have an account with a local car wash than the defence industry’

Financial roadblocks are forcing the UK’s military tech pioneers to risk insolvency – just as demand for advanced defence rises

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 26

When MPs say ‘this is Parliament at its best’, beware. It means nobody disagreed. No scrutiny. No dissent. No debate. That’s not democracy - it’s autopilot.
👇
zurl.co/WOFmF

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www.telegraph.co.uk

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 24

Britain’s debt is a national security risk.
If overseas bondholders lose confidence, we lose control—on interest, defence, even sovereignty.

A must-read from Lord Bridges.
zurl.co/d21y8

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 23

£30bn in tax rises now on the table as NATO demands climb and spending promises bite. Fiscal realism is coming—one way or another.
zurl.co/RvK9P

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 23

UK may expand its Wedgetail AEW&C fleet – good - but no cash, no dates. The SDR line is vague: “potential to expand… subject to future decisions.” It's needed - but this is more stalling than strategy. zurl.co/gZl8c

UK plans to expand E-7 radar fleet after earlier cuts

The UK Government has signalled its intent to expand its fleet of E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft as part of the newly published Strategic Defence Review.

zurl.co

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 22

UK’s F-35A buy hints at a tactical nuclear role - but without a UK warhead or standoff option, is it real deterrence or just theatre?
📎 zurl.co/NiRS1

UK exploring idea of F-35A purchase for NATO strike role

We’ve corrected our article: UK F-35A purchase intention not confirmed, but being considered based on requriements. Gov’t edited response after error suggested a firm shift.

zurl.co

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 22

Two wars at once. China moves on Taiwan. Russia grabs the Baltics. UK generals say it’s a real risk—and we’re not ready. No deadlines. No kit. No cash. Just drift. Must-read:

zurl.co/582ou

Military chiefs fear ‘nightmare’ double wars against China and Russia

General Sir Patrick Sanders says the Ministry of Defence is wargaming a potential polycrisis in two years

zurl.co

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 14

One of the safest things a human can do is fly.

The loss of Flight 171 is utterly appalling, but we should not allow this terrible incident to change our perception of aviation.

This is a sensitive, clear, technically grounded piece by Lewis Page - do read it.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06...

There’s one basic fact about airliners that has not changed after the Air India crash

We should not allow this awful incident to change our perception of aviation

www.telegraph.co.uk

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 14

📉 72% of UK defence SMEs report banking access issues.

Accounts closed. Loans denied. Firms supplying our armed forces are being debanked

This ADS-backed @telegraphnews.bsky.social piece sounds the alarm: Britain wants to rearm, but vital manufacturers are being quietly cut off.

🔗 zurl.co/VaFhX

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zurl.co

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 14

A proud RAF moment at #TroopingTheColour — but also a sombre one.

Black armbands, a minute’s silence, and a reminder of aviation’s highs and lows.

Thoughts with all affected by the tragic Air India disaster.

📎 www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family...

Trooping the Colour 2025: Red Arrows perform eco-friendly fly past

The Red Arrows performed the world’s first eco-friendly fly past over Trooping the Colour.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 14

Congratulations to the Red Arrows on another world first for the Royal Air Force

Today’s #TroopingTheColour flypast used #SAF & biofuel smoke - the first time anywhere both have been combined.

Smart, serious decarbonisation - just getting on with the job, as they always do 👏 👏 🇬🇧

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Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 12

Horrifying scenes from Ahmedabad. A London-bound flight, reportedly with many British nationals, has crashed.

This is first, second and third a human tragedy. No speculation — trained investigators will do their job.

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 12

Spending Review 2025: Defence investment claims don’t survive contact with the spreadsheet.

2.6%? Strip out intel, Ukraine, and diplomacy budgets — it’s more like 2.37%.

Presentation ≠ capability. And allies will notice.

📖 open.substack.com/pub/robertco...

Spending Review 2025: Defence Investment Claims Don’t Survive Contact With the Spreadsheet

The Government wants credit for serious defence spending.

open.substack.com

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 10

Faster, quieter, greener. Redesigned UK flight paths are go — a big win for resilience, capacity & decarbonisation.

Built on early work we led in govt to modernise airspace.

zurl.co/QviVu

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 10

MOD issues Prior Information Notice on large drones launched from Transit vans.
20kg payload, 100km range, road-mobile, low-crew.
A clear nod to what’s working in Ukraine — and what might come next.

zurl.co/cFvUU

Britain wants to launch large drones from Transit vans

Picture a Transit van that can hurl five 125 kg drones to 200 km/h in just four minutes—no rockets, no runway. That's what the UK's Project VOLLEY is aiming for.

zurl.co

Robert Courts KC @robertcourts.bsky.social · Jun 9

I led the cross-government push for military use of civilian airfields back at DfT. Now, years later, it’s finally policy.

Brize can’t be a single point of failure. Dispersal, refuelling, surge – civil aviation has a role to play.

We made the case. Now it’s in the SDR.

📎 zurl.co/SnrYe

Civilian airfields enter British war contingency planning

Recognising Brize Norton as a single point of failure, the review proposes civilian airfields be brought into operational readiness in the event of its disablement.

zurl.co